little tree, by e.e.cummings

little tree
little silent Christmas tree
you are so little
you are more like a flower
who found you in the green forest
and were you very sorry to come away?
see i will comfort you
because you smell so sweetly
i will kiss your cool bark
and hug you safe and tight
just as your mother would,
only don't be afraid
look the spangles
that sleep all the year in a dark box
dreaming of being taken out and allowed to shine,
the balls the chains red and gold the fluffy threads,
put up your little arms
and i'll give them all to you to hold
every finger shall have its ring
and there won't be a single place dark or unhappy
then when you're quite dressed
you'll stand in the window for everyone to see
and how they'll stare!
oh but you'll be very proud
and my little sister and i will take hands
and looking up at our beautiful tree
we'll dance and sing
"Noel Noel"

Does this sound familiar?

Dont have time to blog, or tweet...photographer/blogger Liz might be on to something. Check out her take on this at Mabelsblog

For Lauryn, Shanna, and Steve

For the families, friends and loved ones of Lauryn, Shanna, and Steve, I am sharing the words of this poem. I hope you can find some comfort and solace in them...

There’s heaven above, and night by night
I look right through its gorgeous roof
No suns and moons though e’er so bright
Avail to stop me; splendour proof
I keep the brood of stars aloof
For I intend to get to God,
For ‘tis to God I speed so fast,
For in God’s breast, my own abode,
Those shoals of dazzling glory past,
I lay my spirit down at last.

Robert Browning

I Have Pfeffernüsse and I’m Not Afraid to Use Them.

When the Christmas season came around in 2008, I followed family protocol and began the traditional search for pfeffernüsse. The first thing that was I noticed was that the usual Archway display was missing. Then I did find a few packs of other Archway cookies mingled with the seasonal treats. Ok, so maybe weather was a factor in getting the goodies on the shelves. Hope springs eternal. Rationalizing springs the same.
Tempus fugit. Time flies (even more so during the Christmas rush). Where were the pfeffernuesse? For those of you unacquainted with this delicacy, click here. In my family, these cookies are as important as eggnog. Can you imagine a Christmas where you would not be able to find eggnog anywhere? Can you imagine asking store personnel never having heard of eggnog?
I took it upon myself to unravel this mystery, assuming I could find pfefferneuse on line somewhere. My astonishment at being unable to was quickly overcome. I discovered that Archway cookies had ‘gone under’ falling victim to the troubled financial times. It was so much worse than ‘that’s the way the cookie crumbles’. Now it was about people being out of work. Generations of people I didn’t know had been contributing to my family’s holiday; I was disappointed by being out of cookies. These people were most likely much more than disappointed by being out of jobs. Hundreds of jobs.
Here’s where things get interesting. I kept an eye out for stories about the Archway plant in Ohio. Then what to my wondering eyes should appear…good news? In the dog-eat-dog business world someone finally said let’s have a happy ending. And so it was on the 8th of December, 2008 that the big company (Lance, Inc) bought the little company (Archway Cookies) and reopened the cookie factory in Ashland, Ohio. They hired people back at the same salary as before. And then they called a meeting at the local high school and handed out $1500 Visa cards to the workers. When I read the story, I cried. Who goes out of their way to make Christmas miracles happen? I know that God does; I love finding His fingerprints in things. But it is a rare treat to find such serendipity in cookie crumbs. Pfefferneusse have taken on a new and much deeper meaning.
Now in December 2009, I have gone forth in search of pfeffernuesse. I have found them, bought them and stashed them away. I left some on the shelves so others can take part of the tradition. I will go back, look again and get more if supplies are available. Just so I can share with other family members that couldn’t find them. Or I can share them with people who have never ever even heard of pfeffernuesse, can’t pronounce pfeffernuesse or otherwise not enjoyed them.
Yes Virginia, there are pfeffernuesse.